Softball player's hope, faith keep her going

Len HaywardMidland Reporter-Telegram

Published 5:00 pm, Thursday, February 24, 2011

Kelsei Yow is used to playing and participating in whatever is going on that season at Greenwood High School.

Since her freshman year, Yow has played varsity softball, and from the time she was a sophomore she was a member of the varsity volleyball squad. Mixed in was some basketball, and Yow even pole vaulted last year on the track team.

Simply put, Yow loved to play, and was pretty good at doing it, too.

But as her senior softball season has begun, and Greenwood is playing in this weekend's West Texas Classic at the Freddie Ezell Softball Complex, Yow is having to watch from the bench. And it's been tough for her.

The reason Yow is watching instead of playing is because in November, the 18-year old was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis late last fall.

The diagnosis came after the second of two knee surgeries, and since then Yow has been watching instead of playing, working to deal with the pain that comes with having the condition, and knowing that her sports career could be ending.

"My teammates have been pretty good, and they can tell when I've been down, and they are always encouraging me to give me more hope about it," said Yow, who was a first-team selection as an outfielder on the 3-3A All-District team in 2010. "It is definitely hard sitting there and watching."

Yow's attitude and faith have been two things that have guided her through an ordeal that the vast majority of teenagers may never face. But she is facing it head on, and in the process is still a part of the Greenwood softball team.

She may not be using her glove on the field or her bat at the plate, but she still dresses out with the team, along with being one of the student trainers, is at every practice, sometimes throwing batting practice, and attending every game offering encouragement and helping where she can.

"She's just kind of like the spirit of Greenwood, and we are all just kind of watching her battle something and we can't do anything to help her except keep patting her on the back," said first-year Rangerette softball coach Lee Ann Curry. "I've known her for a long time and I know her spirit and competitiveness. Nothing has really changed, except that she's not playing."

Yow said she had the first surgery on her left knee in July, and after the surgery the swelling took a while to subside. She was released to play volleyball and participate in two-a-day workouts for Greenwood, but the swelling never got better and began to raise a red flag with her doctor.

She sat out much of the volleyball season, playing in seven of 25 matches. Then in November, Yow went in for another surgery, this time on her right knee to remove a cyst, and after doctors took some samples from her knee for testing that is when the diagnosis was made.

Since then Yow said she does some physical therapy, and recently started taking a medication that will help with the swelling and pain. Yow was also diagnosed with the condition in her right wrist and right elbow.

Yow said she is not sure what the long-term affects will be of having the condition, saying she knew someone who diagnosed with it at a young age and grew out of it.

But even with all of that facing her, she is still holding out hope, that somehow she will be able to play again with her softball teammates this season.

"My reaction (when I first heard) was I still have hope," Yow added. "I am still believing in God, and give it to him and trust him. If he has another road for me to go down and leave sports, becoming a coach or going into athletic training, which is what I want to do, then that's what it is."